Global Comparative Phylogeography of E. granulosus s.s. Inferred From Mitochondrial DNA: Integrated Datasets of GenBank and Newly Characterized Isolates From Afghanistan

作者：Tharheer Oluwashola Amuda, Sayed Ajmal Qurishi, Guo-Dong Dai, Yao‐Dong Wu, Wei-Gang Chen, L Wang, Mughees Aizaz Alvi, Ghulam Rahim Awab, Li Li, N.Z. Zhang, Wenhua Li, Fu B, Hong Yin, Wan-Zhong Jia, Xuenong Luo, Li Li, Hongbin Yan · 发表于：Transboundary and Emerging Diseases · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1155/tbed/2401137 · 研究领域：Parasitic infections in humans and animals、Parasites and Host Interactions、Paleopathology and ancient diseases

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s.s.), remains a major zoonotic disease of global public health importance. Afghanistan is considered endemic for CE; however, molecular data on circulating parasite populations are extremely scarce. This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity, population structure, and global phylogeographic relationships of E. granulosus s.s. from Afghanistan within an integrated worldwide mitochondrial dataset. Hydatid cysts were collected from livestock hosts (cattle, sheep, and goats) in Afghanistan, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes were sequenced and analyzed alongside a comprehensive global dataset retrieved from GenBank. Genetic diversity indices, neutrality tests, median-joining (MJ) haplotype (H) networks, sliding-window analyses, and phylogenetic reconstructions based on concatenated mitochondrial sequences were employed. All Afghan isolates were identified as E. granulosus s.s., with a strong predominance of genotype G1 and only a single G3 isolate. Afghan populations exhibited moderate to high H diversity (Hd) but low nucleotide diversity, indicating closely related Hs separated by few mutations. Global H networks revealed star-like topologies with extensive intercontinental H sharing and no host- or geography-specific clustering. Phylogenetic and network analyses confirmed the genetic coherence of the G1 lineag...